Boris Falikov

Russia Today: The two churches have finally been re-united after nearly 90 years of separation. Why did it take them so long to come together?

Boris Falikov: The Russian Orthodox Church Abroad was proclaimed by those people who actually escaped from Russia after the October revolution and it was rather hostile to the Bolshevik regime. So they decided to proclaim this Church Outside of Russia and it happened in the very beginning of the 1920s. Then, after 1927 when Metropolitan, later Patriarch, Sergius I, issued the declaration of the Church’s loyalty to the Bolshevik regime, the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad broke all possible ties with the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow, and the split was very deep. Since that time the two branches of the Church went different ways. The Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia was very conservative, and it was inevitable, because any church in diaspora tends to this, as it has to protect itself from foreign influence, and it is typical for emigrants to be conservative. And that is why they were not only conservative, but at the same time very democratic inside the Church: there was a kind of inner democracy. These two factors made the process of re-unification rather difficult, because, firstly, the Russian Church Abroad was against all ecumenical involvement of the Russian Orthodox Church. Secondly, they were very much afraid, and some feel like this up till now, of that declaration by Sergius I. Not only the hierarchs decided how and when to re-unite, Laurus also took part in making the decision, so the process of re-unification was very difficult.

RT: Let us turn the attention to the political aspect of this event. Some would argue that the whole process of re-unification was accelerated after President Putin’s latest visit to New York where he met Metropolitan Laurus. Is it normal that the President of the country is present at such a big religious event, and also we see Patriarch Alexy II thanking the President?

B.F.: Of course, it is not an ordinary event. As we know, the church is separated from state in Russia as in any democratic country. According to the Constitution, these are separate bodies. But the schism between the churches, as I have said, was extremely deep, and they had to be somehow convinced that the regime in Russia stopped being godless. That situation was their main objection against re-unification. So the President himself had to appear there in New York and give certain guarantees to the Russian Church Abroad that it will not be persecuted. After receiving such guarantees they finally decided that re-unification is possible.

RT: From what we have seen it is clear that this event is equally important for people abroad and in Russia. The feelings that evoke during the re-union were quite strong. How did the believers meet the news? What is your personal feeling about reunification?

B.F.: Well, the believers in Russia met this news very well, of course. But as for believers abroad, there were some differences. And not all of them were happy. There was a kind of suspicion – you know, it’s state.

RT: Why were some people abroad opposed to this re-unification?

B.F.: They still were very afraid that the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow, Moscow Patriarchate, will somehow deprive the Russian Church abroad of any kind of independence, and they wanted to be independent. But, according to the Act of Canonical Communion which was signed on Thursday morning, May 17, the Russian Church Abroad is practically given independence. It’s autonomous, like the Russian Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Well, it’s not fully autonomous, but it is independent. Now they are not suspicious, but still, I should say that certain splits will happen after this re-unification. Not many people will disagree with this decision, but I think, some perishes will, especially those in South America.

Earlier, Mr Falikov shared with RT his view about the prospects of dialogue between the Russian Orthodox and Catholic Churches.

Russia Today: How would you characterise relations between the Catholic and Russian Orthodox Churches at the moment?

Boris Falikov: The relations are much better than they were a year ago. There have been positive changes over the year, but of course some problems remain. These are namely proselytism and Ukrainian uniates who the Vatican supports. As for proselytism, this problem might be solved, maybe in the near future. Now the relations are not as tense as they were a year ago. The reason for this is that Moscow and Rome have a common enemy - what Pope Benedict has called "aggressive secularism". As the head of Catholics, he is fighting it in Europe - while the Orthodox Church is trying to cope with secularism in Russia. So this is a kind of common ground for both of them. 

RT: What's the attitude towards the Catholic community in Russia?

B.F.: Again, a year ago there used to be some tensions which have now eased. There were obstacles related to visa regulations, some Catholic priests were even sent out of the country. Generally, these were Polish-origin priests. This is not the case any longer. As far as I know, the Russian Orthodox Church has made some progress in finding common ground in the proselytism issue.

RT: In terms of figures, how large is the Catholics parish in Russia?

B.F.: There are about 500,000 Catholics in Russia, most of them are of Greek and Polish descent. There are also Russians who have converted to Catholicism.

RT: What do you think are the objectives of President Putin's visit to the Pope? What are the objectives he can achieve?

B.F.: Actually, he can achieve much, but not in a formal way. He could invite the Pope to Moscow, but I am almost sure he won't do it. President Putin believes that to be the prerogative of the church. In my opinion, Vladimir Putin is likely to discuss with Benedict XVI a number of issues that cause his anxiety: moral degradation and traditional values which have been in decline both in Europe and in Russia. Well, they will have a lot to discuss. And as they both speak German, probably they'll understand each other much better.

RT: How far will this visit go in easing the tensions between the two Churches? Will it do much as a start?

B.F.: As a start, yes. Actually, a dialogue between the two Churches has already started, and it will go on, but maybe slowly. In the future, the pope might meet with the patriarch - probably, on neutral soil, somewhere in Europe. It is up to the Churches to decide when this happens, if ever.